BRIDGING THE GAP:

WOMEN FOR WATER AND WATER FOR WOMEN

 

Action proposal and communication strategy:

A Participatory approach on

 

WOMEN ’S INFLUENCE ON INTEGRATED WATER RECOURCES MANAGEMENT

A proposal of

- the Netherlands Council of Women (NVR),

- Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF)

- and Business and Professional Women International (BPW I) to:

 

Ø       Set up an alliance of Women’s organizations to be the “linking pin” between local women groups and (inter)national partnerships on integrated water resources management and act as facilitator, mediator, etc.  

Ø       by using our extensive network to reach and listen to local groups of women to hear what is needed and all ready known

Ø       to facilitate and share knowledge and experience

Ø       and in this way be the added value in and to the already existing partnerships

Ø       in order to create an enabling environment for women all over the world to implement SD, create sustainable livelihoods through demand driven and gender sensitive programmes and schemes.

 

The outlined - and further to develop - concept focuses in first instance on “water”, but is off course applicable to all major themes.

 

WHY

to implement the Dublin Principles:

* Water development and management should be based on a participatory approach, involving users, planners and policy-makers at all levels. The participatory approach involves raising awareness of the importance of water among policymakers and the general public. It means that decisions are taken at the lowest appropriate level, with full public consultation and involvement of users in the planning and implementation of water projects.

* Women play a central part in the provision, management and safeguarding of water. This pivotal role of women as providers and users of water and guardians of the living environment has seldom been reflected in institutional arrangements for the development and management of water resources. Acceptance and implementation of this principle requires positive policies to address women’s specific needs and to equip and empower women to participate at all levels in water resources programmes, including decision-making and implementation, in ways defined by them.

 

WHAT (our goals):

* To facilitate that women are (going to be) partners in this process

(not target groups; NOT about us, without us, deciding what is good for us)

* To enable and empower local (women’s) groups in such a way, that they are able to participate successfully in any form and every level of integrated water resource management.

 

WHO (are involved):

Local women’s groups (who want to do something about IWRM)

together with

Women’s organizations and networks with international contacts at f.i. UN level and local constituencies and contacts. F.e. the members of the NVR, WECF and BPW I.

 

So far the initiators of this “Alliance Women for Water” have:

- made contact with approx. 30 groups of local and (inter)national women groups, that want to be informed and possibly take part in this initiative

- agreed to be partners in the EU Water Initiative and take up an active role in the platform and working groups at different levels

 

WAY’s:

* “Bottom up” meets “top down”

* By acting as a “linking pin” between (inter)national partnerships and local groups.

Women organizations will act as (f.i.):

-          mediators, translators

-          knowledge “bank” and “think tank”

-          facilitators (made to measure, depending on local wishes and necessities)

-          monitor developments , evaluate and assist in adjusting plans and facilities

and develop a concept and strategy for working in the following fashion:

 

 

WHEN:

• ACTION as soon as possible
• when a good communication and basic (project)plan and guidelines have  been defined and developed together with as many women groups as possible
• presentation of the concept, project and results up to that point - during World Water Forum 2003 (Europe Day)